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Local DPWs say they stand at the ready for winter (VIDEO)

By Amaris Castillo, acastillo@lowellsun.com

Updated:
11/15/2017 08:32:56 AM EST

The Dracut DPW has its supply of salt ready to go for winter. Here, reviewing supplies are mechanics Rick Spaulding, of Billerica, rear, and Peter Dion of Lowell, right, and heavy equipment operator Keith Welch of Dracut, in the cab of the loader. SUN /Julia Malakie

Winter is coming. Precipitation will be at above-normal levels throughout the country, the forecast states, which will translate to equally above-normal amounts of snowfall in parts of the Northeast, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.

"It's going to be cold, but not as cold as you would normally expect," said Sarah Perreault, senior editor of the Old Farmer's Almanac, adding that the snowfall for the Northeast is expected to be above normal.

More expected snow means more preparation from departments of public works in Greater Lowell, the Nashoba Valley area and in Central Massachusetts. For all, the real work begins months before the first snow falls.

"We've been going through the trucks, making sure everything's ready to go, fixing any major repairs that needed to be fixed," said Edward G. Patenaude, director of the Dracut Public Works Department.

Patenaude said his department's three full-time mechanics -- and drivers -- have checked the plow and sand trucks. The trucks' lights? Checked. Anything broken? Checked. Cutting edges OK? Checked. In total, the department has two small and six large salt trucks, and about 15 plow trucks.

"We're in good shape. The town's in good shape financially, as far as keeping up with their equipment," said Patenaude, adding that the snow and ice budget for fiscal year 2017 is $560,000. "We have three new salt trucks that are being built right now.

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Jamie Magaldi, operations manager for the Wilmington Department of Public Works, said there's really no shut-off switch when it comes to winter preparedness.

"Even when the snow starts falling, we go into spring and summer doing a lot of repairs and getting the trucks and sanders ready to go. That's our downtime to do the maintenance piece on that equipment," he said. "Right about August, we start putting together contracts for snow contracts for snow plow contractors."

Magaldi stressed that his department is always looking for replacement workers and that those interested in the job can call the department at 978-658-4481.

"It's the unknown. That's the challenge every year," Magaldi said. "Every storm is extremely unique... the challenge is just that everything is very variable and no two storms are alike."

Brian Gilbert, superintendent of the Tewksbury Department of Public Works, said everything is going great on his end. This year's snow and ice budget for the town is $256,000.

"I don't see any new challenges," Gilbert said. "With the weather system that we've been having lately, can something pop up that we've never had to deal with before? Possibly, but, for the most part, we have standard operating procedures with regard to responding to snow storms."

Over in Leominster, Raymond Racine, director of the city's Department of Public Works Department, said it's "all hands on deck" for employees across different departments when it comes to snow operations -- from laborers to truck drivers, to foremen. About a month or so ago, salt units began to be inserted into trucks that are used to salt the city's streets. Leominster has 11 trucks it uses.

"We have 40 guys that we use here from our department, and approximately 60 private contractors," Racine said. "We're in pretty good shape. We have two salt sheds -- both are filled."

In Billerica, preparation is still underway according to Director of Public Works Abdul Alkhatib.

"Our sanders are all equipped with sand and we have about 700 tons of salt," he said. "We normally meet with private contractors who are going to be plowing for us the weekend after Thanksgiving to inspect the trucks, make sure everything is ready to go. We still have some contractors that have not signed up."

Workers began looking at the town's 30-35 trucks in September, and Alkhatib said his department also uses about 100 private plows. The town of Billerica's snow and ice budget is $420,000, according to Alkhatib.

Been getting ready for a month in Ayer

In Ayer, Department of Public Works Superintendent Mark Wetzel said the salt shed is filled up.

"We've probably been getting equipment ready for a month now," said Wetzel, adding that the snow and ice budget this year is $300,000. "Ayer has a reputation of the area for having the best roads for the storms and we hope to keep that up. We've got a really good experienced crew and they make it easy for me to make sure our roads are safe for the winter."

Over in Lunenburg, Public Works Director Jack Rodriquenz said his department should be 100 percent ready for winter by the middle of this week.

"We're in a consortium with 14 other communities to provide us with salt, so that's one of the first things that starts showing up here is our salt supply," he said.

Lunenburg's snow and ice budget is $260,000.

"This is my 23rd winter, so I would like to say I've seen it all but I never really kind of know what to expect after all these winters," Rodriquenz said. "It's the old cliche -- we prepare for the worst and expect the best."

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